Cartridge Assembly Containing Multiple Projectiles

ABSTRACT

A cartridge assembly (i) for weapons, said cartridge assembly including: a tubular body (a) having a central longitudinal channel containing a plurality of electrically fired projectile assemblies (b) in axially stacked orientation, each comprised of a propellant layer (c) and one or more other layers. At the base of the cartridge assembly (i) are routing electronics (f) to control sequential ignition of each propellant layer (c) subsequently launching an aerodynamic projectile (h) created by the incident pressure wave with favorable ballistic qualities derived from the characteristics of the projectile assembly (b).

CROSS REFERENCE

3,480,490 November 1969 Finger et al. 149/92 6,054,659 April 2000 Lee etal. 200/181 6,250,229 June 2001 Kerdraon et al. 102/476 7,597,046October 2009 Laib 102/202.5

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to cartridges for firearms or weapons thatcontain in particular, although not exclusively, multiple projectilesfor sequential ejection from the cartridge for use in small to largecaliber weapons.

2. Discussion of the Background Art

There exists a preferable need to launch projectiles continuously fromfirearms. It is also necessary to supply said firearms with a number ofprojectiles without interruption. In addition to the above well knownneeds are the strategic and actual advantages of firing a multitude ofprojectiles at about the same time in the same direction. Developmentand use of a firearm with such characteristics can satisfy some of themany military needs associated with firearms usage in offensive anddefensive environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention

The invention, at least in a preferred form, seeks to provide acartridge from which multiple projectiles can be sequentially fired at arapid rate and multiple cartridges occupy a manageable magazine, whichcartridge is usable in a variety of firearms ranging from hand-heldsmall caliber arms to large caliber weapons. Desirably, the inventionmay also provide a cartridge containing multiple projectiles and eachprojectile having an associated propellant charge that can beindividually initiated in a predetermined timing arrangement to ejectthe associated projectile from a firearm at intervals that are useful inrequired circumstances.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In a very broad aspect of the invention, a cartridge assembly includes atubular body; the tubular body has a central longitudinal channelhousing routing electronics and a plurality of projectile assemblies inend-to-end orientation.

In another broad aspect of the invention, each projectile assembly maybe comprised of a propellant layer, and one or more stacked metallayers, said projectile assembly having the same outside diameter as theinterior of the tubular body and a generally flat cylindrical shape witha predominant central concave area at the top and predominant centralconvex area at the base; the concave surface designed, in respectiveuse, to focus an ignited charge toward the front of the cartridge and toform a containment barrier to the products of gaseous expansion ofpropellant, whereby the only path of escape is through the opening atthe front of the tubular body.

In another aspect of the invention, the projectile assembly compositionand design may be modified such that the projectile shape created by theincident pressure wave following ignition of a respective propellantlayer has a cross-section with ballistic performance suited to meetspecific parameters.

Additionally, a transverse circular divider separates the routingelectronics from the projectile assemblies, which may be comprised of,on the projectile assembly side, a predominantly concave surface,complimenting the convex base of a projectile assembly, designed toprotect the routing electronics and focus the products of gaseousexpansion of propellant through the opening at the front of thecartridge.

In another aspect of the invention, electrical connections may belongitudinally routed in the circumference of the tubular bodyconnecting each propellant layer to the routing electronics. Theconnections to the propellant layer may be comprised of, but not solelylimited to, physical, electromagnetic or inductive means.

In yet another aspect of the invention, an interface at the rear of thetubular body may be comprised of two concentric circular contacts,centrally positioned and electrically insulated from each other and thetubular body, connected to the routing electronics. The interfaceconducts the signal and current between the firing weapon and therouting electronics.

A cylindrical cover is suitably adapted to enclose the outer peripheryof the tubular body.

In a further aspect of the invention, a detonator device (not shown) maybe included in the propellant layer to facilitate the propellantignition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1.1 depicts an exploded view of the cartridge assembly (i)components, a cross-sectional view of the cartridge assembly (i) and across-sectional view of a single projectile assembly (b).

FIG. 1.2 depicts a cross-sectional view of four stages in thedeformation of the projectile (h).

FIG. 1.3 depicts perspective views of the cartridge assembly (i). Notethe cutaway of the exterior tube (p) assembly exposing the channels (q)and voids used to route the electrical connections along the interiortube (o) assembly. The interface (j) between the cartridge assembly (i)and the firing weapon is visible in the rear view.

FIG. 1.4 depicts a cutaway view of a machine gun implementation of acartridge assembly (i) and a pressure wave formed fin stabilizedprojectile.

FIG. 1.5 describes the step-by-step algorithm followed to complete acycle in the routing electronics (f).

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Refer to FIG. 1.1 and FIG. 1.3, the tubular body (a) interfaces with thefiring weapon and the routing electronics (f) at the rear. The tubularbody (a) also contains the routing electronics (f) at the rear, atransverse circular divider (n) that separates the routing electronics(f) from the projectile assemblies (b), a plurality of projectileassemblies (b) axially stacked and longitudinally routed, electricallyinsulated connections between the routing electronics (f) and theindividual propellant layers (c). The tubular body (a) is enclosed by anexterior tubular wall (p) and is preferably, generally cylindrical inshape.

The tubular body (a) may be comprised of a single piece structure orincorporate nested tubes as in FIG. 1.1, where the interior tube (o)outside diameter is equal to the exterior tube (p) inside diameter.

FIG. 1.3 illustrates how the interior tube (o) may containcircumferentially located longitudinally aligned channels (q) along theinterior tube (o) exterior and voids penetrating through the interiortube (o) at the end of each channel (q) opposite the rear of the tubularbody (a) to route electrically insulated connections from the rear ofthe tubular body (a) to the interior of the tubular body (a) such thatelectrical contact with the propellant layer (c) is made by theelectrically insulated connections. Additionally, said electricallyinsulated connections may be routed to a detonator device (not shown)within the propellant layer (c) to facilitate ignition. At no timeshould the electrically insulated connections ever make electricalcontact with the metal layers of the projectile assembly (b) or tubularbody (a). Alternatively, the electrical connections to the propellantlayer (c) may be comprised of electromagnetic or inductive means.

The front end of the tubular body (a) is open the full diameter of theinterior of the tubular body (a). As shown by FIG. 1.3, the rear of thetubular body (a) is closed off by a circular end cap containing aninterface (j) between the cartridge assembly (i) and the firing weaponwhich may be comprised of, but not limited to, two axially concentric,centrally positioned, circular contacts electrically insulated aroundeach circumference from the rest of the tubular body (a). These circularcontacts act as the signal and current conducting interface between thefiring weapon and the routing electronics (f). The base may also exhibita circumferential rib or indention to facilitate automatic extraction ofthe spent cartridge (i).

FIG. 1.1 shows the interior rear of the tubular body (a) housing therouting electronics (f) in a cavity (I) structurally separated from thefront projectile cavity (m) by a transverse circular divider (n) capableof protecting the routing electronics from the pressure and heatgenerated in the front projectile cavity (m). The transverse circulardivider (n) may consist of a predominantly concave face toward the frontcomplementing the convex base of a projectile assembly (b).

The projectile assembly (b) in FIG. 1.1 and FIG. 1.2 is comprised of aplasticized explosive propellant layer (c), an aluminum middle layer (d)and a denser, thinner, nickel or copper top layer (e) successivelystacked. The middle (d) and top (e) layers assemble to form a rim andconcave parabolic surface. Additionally, the assembly may incorporate areinforcement coating to facilitate cohesion. The projectile assembly(b) is designed to focus the products of gaseous expansion of propellantthrough the front of the tubular body (a) while resisting compressionaround the projectile assembly (b) perimeter. When the propellant layer(c) is ignited a projectile assembly (b) is forced from the tubular body(a) and formed into a drag or fin stabilized shape (h) created by theincident pressure wave.

FIG. 1.1 shows a plurality of projectile assemblies (b) in the frontprojectile cavity (m) of the tubular body (a) stacked so that anelectrically insulated connection only makes contact with the propellantlayer (c) or detonator of every projectile assembly (b) and the ignitionsequence, outlined in FIG. 1.5, will only ignite the forward mostpropellant layer (c) in the stack.

The routing electronics (f) in FIG. 1.1 and FIG. 1.5 provide for securerouting of current sufficient to ignite each propellant layer (c),secure routing of current only in sequence, secure routing of currentonly when the correct initiation sequence (i.e. a secure encryptedsignal) is received from the firing weapon and transmission of atermination signal to the firing weapon when the cartridge (i) is emptyso that cartridge extraction may commence.

FIG. 1.4 illustrates how the cartridge assembly (i) is sized to fit a ina conventional machine gun and can be loaded via magazine. The modifiedweapon would not need a rifled barrel to impart stabilizing spin andwould contain the electronic signaling system required by the cartridgeassembly (i).

1. A cartridge assembly for firearms or weapons, said cartridge assemblyincluding: a tubular body, having a central longitudinal channel;routing electronics that facilitate ignition of a selected propellantlayer of a respective projectile assembly; a transverse divider, adaptedto form a containment barrier to the products of gaseous expansion ofpropellant, whereby the only path of escape is through the front of thetubular body; a plurality of projectile assemblies axially stacked; andconnections from the routing electronics to each projectile assembly,said connections may be comprised of, but not solely limited to,physical, electromagnetic or inductive means, to facilitate ignition ofa selected propellant layer, whereby, the products of gaseous expansionforce a respective projectile assembly from the cartridge assembly. 2.The cartridge assembly of claim 1 wherein a projectile assembly iscomprised of a propellant layer and one or more distinct layerscollectively forming a generally flat cylindrical shape adapted to form,in respective use, both a containment barrier to the products of gaseousexpansion of propellant, whereby the only path of escape is through thefront of the tubular body and an aerodynamic shape created by theincident pressure wave deforming said projectile assembly followingignition of a respective propellant layer.
 3. The cartridge assembly ofclaim 1 further including an enclosed rear and an interface, which maybe comprised of one or more contacts to route electromagnetic signalsbetween the firing weapon and the cartridge assembly.